God's Plan Will Succeed - Day 183 Month 7-2 Week 27-1
Today's Reading (Bible in 1 year)
Ruth 1-2, Psalm 149, Jeremiah 51:36-51, Acts 16:22-40
God’s Plan Will Succeed
God will accomplish His plan. That is a simple truth.
When Paul and Silas began preaching in Europe, they cast an evil spirit out of a slave girl whose fortune-telling had made her owners wealthy. Afterward, they were accused of "throwing our city into confusion," beaten, and thrown into prison. Whether imprisonment was God's intention or simply the result of their obedience, the prison doors could not stop God's plan. In fact, their time in prison led to the jailer and his entire household becoming Jesus followers.
That is an encouragement to me. No matter what happens, God's purposes for this world will move forward.
Sometimes I wonder why Sylvia and I moved here. When we arrived, we hoped to become part of a local church that could serve as a home base for reaching out to our neighbours. I've mentioned before that we visited one church after another and found that many were simply in survival mode. Others seemed so inward focused that they had little energy left to reach their neighbours unless those neighbours first walked through the church doors.
Eventually, we found a church where we could serve and grow, but it is 38 kilometres away. They are faithfully being the hands and feet of Jesus in their own community, and that is exactly what God has called them to do.
One afternoon our pastor was visiting us for coffee, and we shared our frustration about not seeing much happening in our own community. We genuinely wanted to know where God was at work so we could join Him and be encouraged. His response was simple: "It takes time."
We have now been here for more than four years, and we are finally beginning to see small signs that God is working. God's desire is that no one should be excluded from His kingdom. Scripture reminds us, "The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9).
So what is God's plan? We don't fully know. Perhaps we will only recognize it clearly in hindsight.
Until then, we will continue serving where God has placed us. We will worship with the church we attend, keep our eyes open for the opportunities He provides, and continue loving our neighbours. In doing so, we trust that we are participating in a plan that God has already promised will succeed.
Have a great day!
Steve
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